Clos Rougeard : Le Bourg 2016

Characteristics and tasting advice for Le Bourg 2016 from Clos Rougeard

Tasting

Appearance

With a deep garnet hue shading toward ruby-black, the color is noticeably more intense than typical Loire red wines.

Nose

The nose reveals powerful aromas of ripe black fruits (black cherry, blackberry, plum), complemented by secondary notes of leather, tobacco, graphite and mineral nuances. Hints of very ripe fruit mingle with hallmark smoky touches. With aeration, the bouquet unfolds notes of fine cedar and subtle herbal hints.

Palate

On the palate, this wine displays remarkable concentration of black fruit supported by firm yet refined tannins. A sense of natural richness coats the palate, while the mid-palate develops additional layers of complexity with perfectly integrated vanilla and toasted notes. The finish extends with exceptional length, driven by a saline minerality characteristic of the limestone terroir and lingering, beautifully fine tannins.

Food and wine pairings

This wine is an ideal match for red meats and game, notably beef or venison preparations with rich sauces. It also pairs beautifully with duck in dark sauces, lamb, as well as vegetable dishes featuring mushrooms or truffles.

Serving and cellaring

Le Bourg 2016 is best served between 15 and 17°C. Decanting for at least one to two hours is recommended to allow the wine to fully open up. This wine can be enjoyed from 2025-2027 and will keep until around 2048.

A Saumur-Champigny Cabernet Franc of exceptional power and complexity

The estate

Founded in 1664 in Chacé in the Loire Valley, Clos Rougeard remained in the hands of the Foucault family for eight generations. Brothers Jean-Louis and Bernard Foucault turned the estate into a global benchmark thanks to organic viticulture practiced as early as the 1960s, well before this approach became widespread. Since 2017, the property has belonged to Martin Bouygues and has been run by Pierre Graffeuille and Cyril Chirouze, who continue the philosophy of excellence and respect for terroir established by the Foucaults. The estate spans fifteen hectares across around twenty parcels and produces Saumur-Champigny red wines as well as Saumur whites, renowned for their depth, ageworthiness and authenticity.

The vineyard

Le Bourg comes from a parcel of around one hectare located in the heart of the village of Chacé, planted exclusively with Cabernet Franc. The vines, 70 to 95 years old for the oldest, supplemented by replanting after the 1991 frost, are rooted in deep clay-limestone soils. This geological makeup gives the wine its dense structure and pronounced mineral character. The Saumur-Champigny appellation benefits from outstanding limestone terroirs that allow Cabernet Franc to express its full complexity. Yields are deliberately limited to around six bunches per vine, and the vineyard is farmed according to organic principles, without official certification, with plowing and a complete absence of synthetic chemical products.

Winemaking and aging

The 2016 harvest for "Le Bourg" is carried out by hand with rigorous bunch selection, followed by sorting on a table. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts during a maceration lasting 21 to 28 days. After malolactic fermentation in barrels, the wine is aged for 18 to 24 months in new oak barrels. No fining or filtration is carried out before bottling, followed by additional aging of at least 24 months in the cellar before release.

Grape variety

100% Cabernet Franc